Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: Endings (Not a review)

For some people I know, the Harry Potter series ended with the release of the last book. After all, that’s where it all started, it seemed right to consider it as the end.

However — and you can correct me if I’m wrong — there has never been a book to movie adaptation that’s as massive or influential as Harry Potter. Sure there are other movie series and other adaptations that can be considered epic. I already said my piece about this when the first of Deathly Hallows came out, and I stand by it.

Then again, I don’t think there’s a series that went on for as long, had nearly all the cast same from the get go and had the book author deeply involved with the movie’s creation and production as J.K. Rowling was. Not to mention how intense the fans are. Take the Starkids for one: they made a fan musical, wrote songs and made Darren Criss (in)famous long before he joined Glee all for the love of Harry Potter. Wizard rock became a new genre, and there are several conventions all over the world celebrating everything Potter. But I digress, I’m supposed to be talking about what I think of the movie.

I didn’t rush to the cinemas during the first day to watch it, even though I wanted to. Oddly enough, very few of my friends watched it on the first day, so my social networks weren’t jammed with HP feeds (something which I was grateful for). Of course, one of my co-workers had seen it and knowing that I was a fan too, chatted with me about it.

Like many fans, I felt that this was the real end to Harry Potter. The movies have become so much a part of it for me. While I can easily visualize a different Harry, Ron, and Hermionie when I read the book, it was also very easy for me to imagine Dan, Emma, Rupert and everyone else as the characters they effectively portray.

From this point on, I shall be yapping about the movie and my thoughts, so if you haven’t seen it and don’t want spoilers, do not continue.

The movie doesn’t ease you slowly into it. It dives right into the heart of the film continuing from where Part 1 ended. If you haven’t seen Part 1, you might be confused because it doesn’t do any flashbacks.

I first cried in the first major battle scene, when McGonagall threw Snape out and the Order began to cast protective spells over the castle. When McGonagall cast the “Piertotum Locomotor” I wanted to bawl my eyes out. Her giddy comment of how she always wanted to use that spell broke the tension, and it was a welcome relief.

I was very surprised but pleased when the scene in the Chamber of Secrets was included. Seeing Ron open the door, and him giving Hermionie the opportunity to destroy the Horcrux was very worth it. I was a little disappointed with the kiss (too short! Haha) but the scene itself was made of win.

I do not like James Potter, and with the way his character has been written in the books and portrayed in the films, I daresay Rowling doesn’t really like him much either. In a past interview she mentioned that had Lily and Severus not had that argument, they would’ve ended up together. Their story is one of the most tragic love stories ever, but it worked.

It’s interesting to note that some characters in the book who were not mentioned to have died are shown to be in the movie. We never knew if Griphook died, but in the movie he was shown to lay lifeless and bloodied. Lavender Brown was still “feebly struggling” in the book when Hermionie threw a spell at Fenrir Greyback, but in the movie her face already had the grey pallor of death.

I liked the scene where the Malfoys simply walked away from it all. Narcissa was quiet and strong, just wanted her son safe.

Neville… Matthew Lewis had already been on my radar since the 5th movie. I love how his character was still quite clumsy, but he’s grown so in this film. While Rowling did say he married Hannah Abbott and Luna married Rolf Scamander, it was nice to see them get paired her for a moment. I guess I’m not the only one who wished they ended up together, right?

Readers of the book will know how emotional Snape’s flashback is. The movie version was fast, yet quite poignant as well. I like how they showed Snape going into the Potter’s house after the attack, and how he held a dead Lily in his arms as he grieved. I cried here, just as I cried when I read the book. On another note, did anyone make a connection between the word “always” (Snape said it when he was asked if he still cares for Lily, and she said it when Harry asked them to stay with him). No? Oh well, it’s probably just me.

I could go on and on about this, but I’ll leave it up to here for now. I found the entire movie captivating and very visually appealing. I think the production team has perfected the Wizarding World. While not many people are impressed with Steve Kloves’ direction, I think he was able to convey what the book was about. Granted there are little changes to the story (Harry destroys the Elder wand), but it worked. It’s a move I’ll be watching again, mostly because hey, it’s Harry Potter.

But damn if I didn’t wish that there was more Ron and Hermionie screen time.

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9 Comments

Sigh. Still reeling from the Severus + Lily pairing. :)) I just don’t understand why they didn’t show much of the bullying James did. They should’ve! You’re not alone with the sentiment that Sev’s and Lily’s pair is the most tragic love stories of all. I swear the time I read about it on the 5th and last book, I stomped my feet indignantly and wished na “sila na lang.” Hahaha.

I cried on Snape’s flashback. Alan Rickman is the best choice for the Snape role. I can’t imagine how hard it is for him to keep up all his emotions for Harry, the son of his beloved woman and the son of the man he loathed.

Sorry for rambling, I should be writing about HP I suppose, I want a drink! 😛

Somehow from the very start I liked Snape. I suppose knowing that it’s a common plot twist to have a bad guy be good at heart is quite common. Hehe.

True! I wish nakitang binubully si Snape. Then again, readers of the books will know how awful James really is. Hehe. I have this theory that Lily did want to reunite with Snape kaso their pride and fear got in the way. I’d like to think of James as the “rebound” guy, and yeah, na-charm na rin niya si Lily one way or the other. They’re relatively happy but I’m sure at the back of her mind, she does wonder what it would be like had she never fought with Severus. CHOS! Gumawa ng sariling kwento. Sana lang di ba?!

Sigh. EVEN if he’s the rebound guy. Sabagay, they were young and quick to judge pero sayang! D:

And yeah, another thing. I wished Harry’s son’s name is only Severus Potter. 😛 LOL Wala na sanang Albus. Or kung pwede isang anak pa ‘yun. I find it really interesting to see the young kid. Parang medyo young Snape ang aura. 😛

I re-read Order of the Phoenix, and Sirius said that Lily has no idea that James continued to be mean to Severus, even after they (James & Lily) started dating and even if he grew less conceited. Wala lang. Movie (DH Pt2) parang wala lang talaga si James bwahahaha.